Putin envoy, US officials discuss ending Ukraine war
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev held “constructive” talks with US officials on ending the Ukraine war, including possible US-Russia energy initiatives in the postwar period, a US official says.
The visit Monday by Dmitriev, who is also head of Russia’s RDIF sovereign wealth fund, follows a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskiy last week in New York, where Zelenskiy said they discussed a potential ceasefire on energy-related targets.
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Putin in Moscow earlier this month.
Dmitriev was in Washington “to continue constructive discussions on a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and possible US-Russia energy initiatives after the war ends,” the US official said.
Meanwhile, Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Ukraine had successfully intercepted Russian ballistic missiles overnight.
Russia has been pummelling Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles knowing that Kiev lacks the interceptors needed to fend off the high-speed weapons.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged western partners to supply more air defence missiles, including for the US-made Patriots system.
The Ukrainian president on Tuesday thanked the US and Norway for supplying a “NASAMS system and the package of missiles for it”.
“I am grateful to France and Germany for the air defence support package provided in recent days, specifically the missiles,” Zelenskiy said on X, without providing further details.
The Ukrainian president also reported fresh damage from the latest Russian overnight attacks, saying data and business centres as well as residential buildings were struck in Kiev.
In the Odessa region, “an educational institution, a dormitory, and two foreign vessels” were hit, he added.
A total of nine regions came under Russian attack, resulting in damage to energy infrastructure, residential buildings and civilian companies.
The Defence Ministry in Moscow confirmed the strikes on the Kiev region and Odessa,
In Kiev and the surrounding region, two weapons depots and two data centres were hit, while in Odessa, Russian forces targeted two ships, a substation and port facilities, the ministry said on Telegram.
It is not possible to independently verify the claims.
Reuters